Co-pyrolysis–catalytic steam reforming of cellulose/lignin with polyethylene/polystyrene for the production of hydrogen

Co-pyrolysis of biomass biopolymers (lignin and cellulose) with plastic wastes (polyethylene and polystyrene) coupled with downstream catalytic steam reforming of the pyrolysis gases for the production of a hydrogen-rich syngas is reported. The catalyst used was 10 wt.% nickel supported on MCM-41. The influence of the process parameters of temperature and the steam flow rate was examined to optimize hydrogen and syngas production. The cellulose/plastic mixtures produced higher hydrogen yields compared with the lignin/plastic mixtures. However, the impact of raising the catalytic steam reforming temperature from 750 to 850 °C was more marked for lignin addition. For example, the hydrogen yield for cellulose/polyethylene at a catalyst temperature of 750 °C was 50.3 mmol g−1 and increased to 60.0 mmol g−1 at a catalyst temperature of 850 °C. However, for the lignin/polyethylene mixture, the hydrogen yield increased from 25.0 to 50.0 mmol g−1 representing a twofold increase in hydrogen yield. The greater influence on hydrogen and yield for the lignin/plastic mixtures compared to the cellulose/plastic mixtures is suggested to be due to the overlapping thermal degradation profiles of lignin and the polyethylene and polystyrene. The input of steam to the catalyst reactor produced catalytic steam reforming conditions and a marked increase in hydrogen yield. The influence of increased steam input to the process was greater for the lignin/plastic mixtures compared to the cellulose/plastic mixtures, again linked to the overlapping thermal degradation profiles of the lignin and the plastics. A comparison of the Ni/MCM-41 catalyst with Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/Y-zeolite-supported catalysts showed that the Ni/Al2O3 catalyst gave higher yields of hydrogen and syngas. Graphic abstract